Spring is in the air!!!

Can you smell it?!?!  Oh wait...don't breathe in too much- you might get sick...I am so thankful that the really sick bug hasn't hit our house- we've just had ear infections (which are a pain, of course), but I'd rather deal with those than worry with the flu or pink eye that seems to be making it's way around to everyone!!!  ***fingers crossed that it won't hit our house***  

Now...I'm going to take a minute to get on my {safer home} soapbox...so get ready...=)

• Did you know that of the approximately 100,000 chemicals on the global market, less than 10 percent have been tested for health effects?  That means that the products you buy at the grocery store/target/wherever are filled with chemicals that effect YOUR allergies and skin?  

• The companies that sell the products on the shelves aren't concerned about providing you with safer products for your home (even the *green* ones); they are concerned with their shareholders.  End of story.

• Did you know that there is a better way to shop for the products you need in your home?  We "switched stores" almost 2 years ago and I can't tell you how much money I have saved the hubs by testing out this or that new product or even just the impulse shopping I do when I peruse the aisles!  I'm sure you've seen that cartoon on pinterest!!

I have 100% confidence that my kids aren't being exposed to harsh or harmful chemicals by using safer products in our home.  I'm 100% confident that I am not being exposed to them either when I clean the house!  

I'll have a *real* moment with you--- Owen is into e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.  He climbs on everything and thinks the world is his jungle gym- especially my kitchen counters.  He recently got a hold of the kitchen cleaner spray bottle that was on top of my bar counter.  (He has a fascination with spray bottles now that his fingers are strong enough to pull the trigger- we have a water spray bottle we spray the boys' hair down with in the mornings)  Anyway-  he of course got trigger happy with the spray bottle- except it was pointing towards his chest!!  He got the cleaner all over him!!  If that had been a bottle of cleaner I bought at the store with chlorine or bleach in it, we would have immediately had to take him to the hospital or call poison control!!  Of course I carefully watched his skin over the course of the next few days, and you know what- he didn't have one bit of aggravated skin from it!  

Here's a brief video that shows how awesome the EcoSense line is we use in our home!  

  

Of course I'd love to share this info with you!  Let me know when a good time would be for you to swing by my house to see the products for yourself or if you'd like to invite a few friends over for me to share with all of you how you can convert your home to safer, more eco-friendly products!!  ***and fyi- I don't sell these products- you would do your own shopping directly from them- I have just found that I am passionate about safer homes and getting other people to love it, too!!  I can share all the ins and outs with you if you like!***

Okay- so now that I'm off my soapbox----

Do you have any big plans for spring time?!  I'd love love love to plant some things with the boys this spring- some easy things- flowers and maybe even some fruits...I saw something on pinterest (of course) about how to do strawberries in a pot.  Maybe blackberries, too??  I don't know--- any suggestions?!  

Here's a few pics of my cuties~~~

precious

how cute is she?!  she has started rolling over...when I put her down...which is hardly ever.  =)

I don't have a good one of Miles right now--- my next post will be about Owen's CONSTRUCTION birthday party!!!  It was great!!  

Finding Freedom ------>

You see that button on the right there??  The "Finding Freedom Team" button?  

Let me tell you a little about it...

Two years ago, a sweet teacher friend called me up.  One who I had gotten to be close friends with while we lived in Tuscaloosa (which is saying something- because we didn't have many friends at all while we lived in Tuscaloosa =)  She knew I was working part-time at that time and about to have another baby (Owen) and wanted to share with me what she had started doing.  She had found a work from home opportunity that she really believed in- not a gimmick or a party-based business or keeping up with inventory- but an opportunity with a debt-free, green-living company.  Little did I know at the time just how important the green living part would become to me with small children!  

After Owen was born, I looked back into it and joined her.  The team that we're a part of is the Finding Freedom team- a group of people looking to find not only financial freedom, but time freedom, freedom from store brands, etc...  Our Team supports families in healthier choices for their families and homes, while supporting them in finding success in business, primarily with a legitimate career that allows us to work from home and build a solid, lifetime residual income provided security for our now and retirement security.  The company we partner with is an International Wellness Company BBB awarded and next to none!

so....

MOMS:

If you're interested in knowing how simply switching stores can make a positive difference in your family's life- I'd love to share info about Melaleuca with you.  Seriously- you're already spending the money somewhere- you're just switching the place you buy your everyday products from to a safer company with much healthier products.  I mean-  even the plastic bottles are made with 25% post-consumer recyclable materials!  The value of a membership with Melaleuca is also well-beyond just the products! 

If you are interested in joining me in spreading the *green* love and earning some extra income, you can check out a webcast with me to see if this is an opportunity to take advantage of!  Our compensation plan is awesome and so very rewarding!  You can even check out our team on facebook to put real faces with real results!  

So there's my spill---- I'm sure I'll post again and again about how much I love this company- seriously- it's such a relief knowing that I'm not exposing my children to awful chemicals and being responsible for what they come in contact with at home.  Plus- I'm not cutting coupons or having to drag all my kids to the store to buy those everyday household items!  I'm shopping wisely and from the convenience of my own home and computer!  

Catch-Up!!

My sincerest apologies for not keeping up....I'll tell you something- this 3rd pregnancy has been a booger!  I will spare you all of the details- but one thing I will tell you is that I have found myself beyond GRUMPY!  My attitude has been negative and when I have a free moment, I want to sit down and watch TV and get lost in whatever's going on in people's fictional lives!  AH!  Now, I enjoy watching TV- I always have- but I've never been a TV junkie like I have the past several weeks!  Let's just say-- I'm glad the month of April is over and I'm on into my 2nd trimester!  {{{cue the music}}}

I'm in my 16th week of pregnancy and we will be finding out in two weeks what Darby #3 is!  I don't have my hopes up either way- I'm planning for both (ways that is...not one of each  =)  I have lots of cute ideas for 3 boys and getting rooms geared towards that way, but if it's a girl- I don't quite have the room situation figured out yet, but know that it will come!  Owen will not be ready for a big boy bed yet, although, I'm pretty sure by fall, he will have already figured out how to escape from his crib.  He's quite the explorer...and a little walking tornado, as well!  {I should have taken a picture of the entryway before Miles and I cleaned it up...it's impressive what little hands can do with 2 minutes when left unattended!}  So that means I will have 2 kids in cribs...wow.

Here are a few pics to update you on life around here!!

Miles on Easter

Owen on Easter

My Melaleuca booth at Farmer's Market

Mother's Day craft- thank you I Can Teach My Child

presents for grandmothers!  *there was one more frame* *notice the difference in feet- ha!*

Jared and Dad were in charge of lunch- doesn't it look FAB!
(They picked it up from a wonderful catering place- but they did have to heat it  =P)

Miles isn't really into cooperating much these days...

Best we could get...don't you like the lovely bruise on my uncrossed legs???

So if you don't live in Memphis...this is the view coming across the bridge into TN from AR.
The mighty Mississip' is a-risin' on up!

menu for the week...2nd edition =)

Okay---so last week worked!

YAY for me!!!

Thursday was especially hard..........Jared was set to have a meeting...I wanted so badly NOT to cook...but I did it anyway!!!  So the whole week worked out!  YAY!

Well...except Friday I didn't do roast...I did the sandwiches because we decided to spend the night at the mall (which we have not done in FOR-EV-UH--- in fact...we may or may NOT have gotten lost going out there b/c it was raining and we haven't been on the interstate in forever....hmmm....)  So Saturday we just ate leftovers for lunch and then headed out that evening for bowling at Mexican (fajitas there were MUCH better than my sorry attempt on Monday!!)

So here's the game plan for this week...

tonight:  hmmm...I have cooked, shredded chicken breast in the fridge thawing...I'm thinking I'll do poppyseed chicken and some veggies...probably better hurry up and decide, huh?!  Hubby will be home in about an hour---and I still have to get dressed!  AH!!!  But it has been a great pajama/snow day!!
(oh--- and earlier today for lunch- me and Miles made our own pizzas!  fun---he didn't like his-- it didn't taste like the "real" thing!  oh well-- I ate mine up!)

Tuesday- hubs has a city meeting- and those last FOREVER so we will either do a veggie plate or might wait around at Meme's house and see what they're having for supper!!  hee hee!

Wednesday- church supper (and we're having the BEST red beans and rice and bread pudding you've ever put in your mouth...we have SUCH good chefs for our Wednesday night suppers!!)

Thursday- I WILL cook that roast this week!!!

Friday- potato soup- see this post for recipe (or I have a chicken chili recipe we might do...)

Saturday- probably leftovers/"fend for yourself"  =)

okay-- well there aren't too many all out meals I have to cook up this week...so I might throw in another one along the way---especially for Saturday...but lots to do between now and then!  Planning for little boy's 1st birthday celebration (think lumberjack), helping throw a shower for a dear friend (think little cowboy), attending a wedding shower, and lots of birthday presents!!  Gotta get that sewing machine going, folks!

What am I doing on here?!?!?

Hope you have a GREAT week!!!!  What's cooking at your house this week?!

"Help!! The Baby's Out!"

Babyproofing.  How much do you do?  Are you super safe?  Bumpers on every piece of furniture, locks on the toilets, finger-smusher proof doors?  Do you just do a few basics?  Cabinet locks, an occassional baby gate? 

I find myself in between.  We have a gate at the top of the stairs- but I hate it.  I mean- I'm glad Miles can't get down (yet) by himself.  But it would just take one climb or extra strong temper tantrum to send it going down the stairs!  The particular gate we have isn't one that you screw into the wall.  We will soon have to get another one for the bottom of the stairs when little mister decides to start crawling!  {{we're safe for now}}

Then in the kitchen, we have cabinet locks, but not everywhere; I wanted Miles to be able to have a cabinet all to himself.  And I tell you what, it has been the source of many imaginative, entertaining himself times that he has had!  That empty cabinet is his office, his tent (with any toy that makes light) and he lets me know when "stuff" ends up in his cabinet!  No fits- everything is just neatly stacked outside of the cabinet (he gets that "neat-stack" thing from his daddy!)

What about your fireplace?  How do you babyproof it?  Ours is open in the wall, with a chain screen (how the house came).  It's not like it gets cold enough here to use our gas logs-- maybe two or three times a year?!  We bought a screen- but it isn't very heavy- which is good and bad...good in that it won't hurt as bad if it fell over, but bad in that it could fall over and it would hurt!  I do wish it had a glass door---so tell me- how do you protect your little one from the fireplace??

But you know?  No matter how much "proofing" we do- baby will still have those accidents!  We had one yesterday- on an unsuspecting object!  Owen is trying so hard to get around.  He had wiggled himself close to the recliner in our room, his arms gave out, and he banged his face into the handle on the chair!  I was right there with him, but it happened so quick!  Do you have any of those type stories, or am I the only one?!  Surely not...oops- gotta go- another tearful bump awaits mama's kiss!!  Share your story with me!

Uh-oh!  Look below his eye- accident #1 of a million more to come, I'm sure!  Poor baby!  And the teething sure doesn't help the fussiness!